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Style Debate: Dress Shirts – Pocket vs. No Pocket

August 19, 2011 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Nordstrom Smartcare Trim Fit – $49.50 | Calibrate Trim Fit – $59.50

The case for the Shirt Pocket:  It’s not like they’re pleats.  They’re traditional but still functional.  A lot of men use their dress shirt pockets all the time.  And… they do so without the use of a pocket protector.  You can hang a security badge from them, stash a few bucks in there if you’re in a rush, and they’re hardly ever seen if you’re wearing a suit jacket or blazer.

The case for No Shirt Pocket:  Thankfully, shirts have gotten trimmer over the last decade, but designers and retailers still sew the same bulky & bulging pockets on the front.  You’d think they’d slim the pockets down with the silhouettes.  It really screws up your lines if you’re wearing a slim tie and you’ve got this behemoth of a pocket on your chest.  Sort of like wearing a slim tie with massive peak lapels.  It looks unbalanced.  In this time of rising prices and cost cutting… save some cotton.  Lose the damn shirt pockets already.

Which side are you on?  Do you have a strong preference either way?  Or have you never really even thought about whether or not your shirt has a pocket on the front of it?  It all goes in the comments section below…

See the slim fit shirt palooza for more on how both of these shirts fit.

Filed Under: Clothing Tagged With: Calibrate, dress shirt, Nordstrom, shirt pocket, style debate

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Comments

  1. OmKA says

    August 19, 2011 at 8:20 AM

    I am very for the pocket ! I actually get bummed about all the shirts I have that don’t have one. Without the pocket I feel the shirt lacks some character, or masculinity. I’m by no means a “buff dude” but I like there being a seperation between the torso and neck, the pocket I feel distinguishes that.

  2. mdnicley says

    August 19, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    Pocket. I don’t think it looks any better or worse, and you can PUT STUFF IN IT. If you’re wearing a jackets it doesn’t matter, because a typical jacket has more pockets than the cargo shorts you’re hopefully also wearing.

  3. Gilla says

    August 19, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    I’m for no shirt pocket, I’m not in favour of having a big pocket on my chest next to the slim tie, it throws things out of wack.  I also don’t think I’ve ever put anything in my shirt pocket, I use my pant pockets for any change in.

  4. Jjaybles says

    August 19, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    I use my shirt pockets constantly. I can’t stand keeping any more than necessary in my pants pockets, so any way to lighten the load is good. I actually get kind of upset when I find a shirt I really like and it doesn’t have a pocket (that doesn’t stop me from getting it, it’s just a little disappointing). I like the look of clean lines, but sometimes I feel like a shirt just looks too plain without a pocket.

  5. LaMar Gibson says

    August 19, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    I’m all about function. At work I can have a nice non-fountain pen tucked into my shirt pocket. Or I can put my shades in there when I’m entering a building instead of pushing them up on my head.

  6. Stephen says

    August 19, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    Generally speaking some of the shirts I like the best don’t have pockets. That said, I wish they did. The pocket should be big (and sturdy) enough to fit an iPhone when need be. Moreover, I usually keep my mobile headset in that pocket and never quite feel right putting the headset in a pants pocket. 
    My vote, therefore, is for the pocket, but yeah, let’s trim it down a bit.

  7. Completely Overrated says

    August 19, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    I’m a no pocket kind of guy. I don’t think I’ve ever once used one, so to me they just scream “pointless”.

  8. Joolander says

    August 19, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    its actually pretty simple: Normal Placket = slim pocket, French Placket = no pocket

  9. BKA says

    August 19, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    For occasions where a pen is required I like to have a shirt pocket for my fountain pen (ie at the office) whereas for more formal occasions I find it just interrupts the smooth lines of the shirt front.  I have some of both and mix it up.

  10. guest says

    August 19, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    Generally agree with the concept, but will take it a tiny bit more general — if it’s a formal shirt (I’m talking formal wear or very high end business, not just every day business attire) or something I’d put in the “shiny shirt” category (something I don’t wear), I’d say no pocket.  For everything else, the pocket is a traditional look.

    *Note – I don’t wear skinny ties; I’m a combination of tall and an athletic build, and they look ridiculous on me.  Agree that, for those who do, no pocket may be a better option to match ‘sizing’ of your attire.

  11. Anonymous says

    August 19, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    I’m an architecture student, and as such I always carry a pen in my shirt pocket–you never know when you’ll need it. Besides, you can’t see it under a sportcoat or suit, and I think it adds something.

  12. BYC says

    August 19, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    I’ve actually bought two of the smartcare trim fit shirts and removed the pockets myself and love how it looks. I’ve heard horror stories of removing pockets though, apparently some shirts with special treatments on it (ie. non-iron shirts, smartcare, etc.) have issues with being able to see the outline of where the pocket was. If you want to remove the pocket yourself, be sure to do it before you wash and wear the shirt for the first time.

  13. Kirby says

    August 19, 2011 at 1:44 PM

    I’m a huge fan of pockets for pen/sunglasses storage (though the jacket is preferable for both), but if you’re going sans tie and jacket, then omitting it can make for a sleek look. 

    I inevitably spend the day trying to put pens in the nonexistent pocket, though.

  14. Na Humma says

    August 19, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    I’m a bit conflicted on this one.  While I do like the extra holding space that a shirt pocket provides, I’m also a big fan of the sleek, streamlined look achieved when wearing a shirt sans pocket.  To me, it really comes down to the look of the shirt.  I have a few shirts where the pocket is barely noticeable and doesn’t bother me and others where there’s a big square patch of fabric that sticks out like a sore thumb.  As long as the designer/manufacturer can properly manage it, I suppose I am a fan of the pocket in the end.

  15. Crbrewster says

    August 19, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    Definitely a no-pocket guy. I think with some of the more casual button-downs, it’s ok. Not a big fan on the dress shirt though

  16. Ryan N. says

    August 19, 2011 at 2:18 PM

    I feel like when I have a shirt taken in at the sides, the presence of a pocket throws off the lines and it looks funny (I’m really slim). I rarely put anything in said pocket that I wouldn’t be able to put in the V of a button-up or polo, IMO.

  17. Peter Bailey says

    August 19, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    On casual shirts, yes.

    On dress shirts, no.

    With a dress shirt I prefer the cleaner line, especially if also wearing a tie.  And I’m a lot more likely to be wearing a blazer or suit when I’ve got a dress shirt on, so the “utility” of the pocket is irrelevant.

  18. zerostyle says

    August 19, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    No pockets!

    Especially on slim shirts, they almost never end up in an appropriate place on your chest.  It annoys me that most american made shirts come with them.

    Does anyone know if shirts look ok if you remove them with a seam ripper?

    So far my solution has been to order from ModernTailor or Charles Tyrwhitt, but I’m not in love with either.

  19. Osyrus68 says

    August 19, 2011 at 3:27 PM

    Under no circumstance should a dress shirt have a pocket. Clean lines. Form over function. you want function? you want pockets galore? go back to the 90’s and grab a pair of god awful cargo pants.Plus if you’re wearing a sport jacket or suit…there’s pockets in there. Use them. I keep hearing the-fish-gets-bigger tales of people using them, yet I haven’t seen ONE in use since the 80’s, and that was only in “nerd” movies. If you are wearing a short sleeved casual, “beach day” ensemble…by all means. The shirt would probably look out of place without a pocket and keeping a pair of wayfarers in there is necessary. 

  20. Osyrus68 says

    August 19, 2011 at 3:27 PM

    Under no circumstance should a dress shirt have a pocket. Clean lines. Form over function. you want function? you want pockets galore? go back to the 90’s and grab a pair of god awful cargo pants.Plus if you’re wearing a sport jacket or suit…there’s pockets in there. Use them. I keep hearing the-fish-gets-bigger tales of people using them, yet I haven’t seen ONE in use since the 80’s, and that was only in “nerd” movies. If you are wearing a short sleeved casual, “beach day” ensemble…by all means. The shirt would probably look out of place without a pocket and keeping a pair of wayfarers in there is necessary. 

  21. Anonymous says

    August 19, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    I like having a pocket; I put stuff in it.

    If I’m dressing up I will skip the pocket.

  22. Jen Samayoa says

    August 19, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    No pockets!  I saw a shirt with two front pockets (one on each side) and I thought it was a shirt for a woman.  Please, no pockets.

  23. Vernon Burt says

    August 19, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    Definitely prefer pockets. Pocket-less shirt lack definition, although I can see how they might look good with a slim tie on a skinny person, but I personally don’t look good in that minimalist style.

  24. ron combs says

    August 19, 2011 at 4:13 PM

    I’m a never pocket.

  25. Anonymous says

    August 19, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    Pockets were certainly a necessity when I smoked but not that I have been smoke-free for over a year, I’m surprised how much I still use the shirt pocket, mostly to shove my cellphone in now that iPhones and other brick-like smart phones are almost the same size and shape as a pack of smokes.

    For work and casual time, I will wear a pocket, but if there is a more formal event or I’m trying to make an impression (date) then I will go for something without. At the end of the day, I do think it looks slightly better.

  26. Curt says

    August 19, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    I like having a place to put my sunglasses (though they invariably fall out when I bend over), so I’m for the pocket.  The problem comes when you have to have the sides taken in a bunch (cause you’re so skinny.  Don’t you ever eat?) and pretty soon the pocket looks like its being sucked in to your armpit.  

  27. Collin says

    August 19, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    No pockets with French cuffs…pockets without

  28. Guest says

    August 19, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    pockets are geeky on dress shirts but OK on oxford shirts etc. when more casually dressed. no pocket on a dress shirt creates a more modern, clean appearance. you won’t find pockets on dress shirts by thomas pink, eton, charvet, armani, or zegna… I would trust them over the folks making nordstrom smartcare shirts, nautica, joseph a bank etc.

    note: if you buy a john w. nordstrom trim fit shirt, which is nordstrom’s high-end house brand, instead of the regular nordstrom smartcare trim fit, it will not have any pockets and looks better. a pocket is OK on a shirt here or there, but just because it’s there doesn’t mean anyone should be stuffing pens, phones, or eyeglasses cases in them. that’s like saying just because you have two back pockets in your trousers they are great for stuffing oversized wallets and excess crap in there!

  29. Derek says

    August 19, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    Both. Neither. Who gives a shit? The overall fit, color/pattern, size and shape of collar, etc…all these are more important than whether or not a shirt has a pocket on it. I use the pockets on shirts that have them but don’t miss them on shirts that don’t. Taking into account whether or not a shirt has a pocket when buying it is just inane, in my opinion. Hell, on a casual shirt, sometimes TWO pockets is nice!

    THAT SAID, those shirts at Macy’s that everyone is gaga over, the slim fit dress shirts they make? (Alfani RED, I think.) The pocket is located, like, down by my belly button. THAT looks ridiculous. It’s the lowest pocket I’ve ever seen on a shirt. That was enough to make me not buy the shirt, or even consider ever buying one.

  30. Jeff says

    August 19, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    I think using the pocket of a dress shirt, especially with a pen, is very tacky.  In fact, whenever I’m wearing a button-down and need to store a pen, regardless of whether I have a pocket or not, I store the pen sideways between the second and third button of the shirt at an angle.  With this being said, if I find a shirt that I like, I won’t walk away from it because it has a pocket.  

    For dressier occasions, I have a crisp white spread collar with no pocket.

  31. Cannon says

    August 19, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    I am generally not into the pocket, but I am not against it.

  32. Alexander W. says

    August 19, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    I, too, like the pocket’s contribution to the spatial landscape of the shirt-front. However, I have no use for the pocket; I think having anything in this pocket is like having a wallet bulge in the back pocket of a pair of jeans.

    My biggest complaint against pockets is that they are often too far down, to the left, and often bigger than they should be. The placement issue is probably because I am 5’11, 185lbs. I typically buy a 16.5″ 34/35 shirt to accommodate for the larger neck/shoulders/traps that come with putting in good time at the gym.

  33. Derek says

    August 19, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    I’ve tried storing a pen like that, but it’s uncomfortable as hell! Unless your pens are like…cigarette length.

  34. Ben says

    August 20, 2011 at 3:00 AM

    I prefer pockets but I never use them. Well sometimes I do but only for my cell phone in emergencies. . like the bath room at work. Once I had my cell phone in my trouser pocket and I just dropped a major duece. I want to tuck in my shirt while pulling up my trouser and my cell phone dropped into the the toilet. After that I always leave my phone at my desk or preferably in my shirt pocket(if it has one).

  35. Andrew S. says

    August 20, 2011 at 3:24 AM

    No pockets.

  36. LW says

    August 20, 2011 at 7:36 AM

    No pockets. Ugh.

  37. Rush says

    August 20, 2011 at 8:44 AM

    Why would I need a pen when am wearing the shirt to a nice function?. No pockets!.

  38. Josh says

    August 20, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    No pocket. Something about it just screams old guy at the office to me…

  39. Scott says

    August 20, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Websites keep trying to sell me fancy business card cases for networking.

    That’s what my shirt pocket is for.

  40. BK says

    August 20, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    Pocket. I use them all the time for everything from shades, to my ipod, to do lists, etc. I’d be very lost without it. I’m not old either, I just like my clothing to have at least a minimal level of utility.

  41. johnny says

    August 20, 2011 at 6:35 PM

    no pocket. wear a suit jacket/blazer/sportcoat and use the inside pockets

  42. Augustus says

    August 21, 2011 at 4:33 PM

    Hey look! It’s Milton from Office Space! I agree, utility is
    most important with clothes. Also, try to shove an iPad into each flap pocket on
    your blazer and stuff all your office documents into your trouser pockets…
    who says the modern man needs a briefcase? Keep using all those pockets,
    Milton! And get me those TPS reports!

  43. BK says

    August 22, 2011 at 6:50 PM

    What a stupid comment. How is sticking my sunglasses or an ipod that im listening to into my shirt pocket on par with the ridiculous statement you made? Sorry I don’t like digging around in a bag every ten minutes for the sake of having a more modern looking shirt. You sound like a twat.

  44. Joe says

    August 22, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    Easy.  Now, Augustus… that was a very twattish comment.  Let’s all move on.

  45. Sartorialmaster says

    August 24, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    pocket at work, no pocket at play

  46. Emmet says

    August 27, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    breast pocketed shirt is great for the horsetrack. Then you won’t lose your tickets.

  47. LD says

    April 20, 2012 at 9:58 AM

    Hey I want my pocket on all shirts.  I really have trouble finding pocket shirts. Please do not stop making the shirt with a pocket,

  48. Bernieross12 says

    May 16, 2012 at 5:52 AM

    Yes!  It sounds like an old guy at the office.   I AM an old guy at the office who wants a place for his reading glasses.  

    Has anyone, other than a mincing fashionista, every declined to buy an office shirt, on the grounds that it has a pocket ?    It’s an office, not a catwalk !   

  49. ImTheDandyHighwayMan says

    July 4, 2012 at 2:36 PM

    I hate shirt pockets. Even worse is that if you try to buy them online there is no special category for NO shirt pocket. To me they are something like wearing a short sleeve shirt with a tie. I don’t have a pocket protector but I think that is what the pocket is for.

  50. j85048 says

    July 23, 2012 at 11:25 AM

    no pocket

  51. Poe Kette says

    August 18, 2012 at 2:43 PM

    Like most of the others on here, I prefer pockets on my shirts BECAUSE I USE THEM! I am amused at the others that talk about the looks and the “cleaner line”. Seriuosly, do some of you really look at others and say “Man that guys lines are all messed up by his pocket”? Really? The argument is mute though as Corp Am has already decided for you. It costs less to make a shirt without a pocket.

  52. conner says

    September 12, 2012 at 2:07 PM

    shirt pockets should be outlawed or a tax should be imposed on them, $100 a year if you want to wear a shirt with a pocket

  53. ChrisX says

    November 3, 2013 at 9:33 AM

    It is sad. Shirts without pockets are just another indicator of how style over substance is becoming the default mode …

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